Obsidian Poseidon Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir 2020

Sustainable farming, solar powered winery. 

Producer's notes: 

HISTORY
Poseidon Vineyard, located at the confluence of Carneros Creek and the Napa River, was [originally] planted in 1973 by the Molnar Family to the Burgundian varietals: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The maritime environment of the Carneros grape-growing season delivers cool, foggy mornings followed by warm days that slowly nurture ripening.

VINTAGE 2020 The season began with ideal conditions through the Spring and early Summer, without any major frost or heat events, allowing for uniform development and ripening. Yet few wines were produced in an infamous year notable for a global pandemic and multiple wildfires in the North Coast. Lightning-sparked fires in mid August fortunately had minimal impact on our vineyards, allowing us to harvest high-quality fruit from early-ripening varieties. Severe regional fires in late September, however, brought the season to an abrupt end.

WINEMAKING
Our Estate Pinot Noir is primarily sourced from Martini clone Pinot Noir, with one small lot of Pommard 5 clone. The fruit was harvested by hand and fermented separately, 10% whole cluster. As soon as the fermentations were complete, the wines were pressed gently and aged in Kádár Tokaj oak, 70% in 300-liter barrels and 30% in a single 3,000-liter upright oval cask [from the family's cooperage in Hungary]. These oversized vessels add the signature spiciness of Hungarian oak to the blend at lower concentrations than standard barrels, complementing the fruit character while retaining the pure, fruit-filled expression of Pinot Noir. Aged on lees and racked only once before bottling to add weight and complexity.

Alex Beloz, Winemaker